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NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 24: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his side first goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 24, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Antonio Conte bowed out as Napoli coach with a victory over 10-man Udinese thanks to Rasmus Hojlund, but yet more injury problems.
The Partenopei locked down a top four finish last week and Champions League qualification, so could say goodbye to their coach after two seasons and as many trophies, the Scudetto and Supercoppa Italiana.
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Matteo Politano returned from suspension and Kevin De Bruyne still dealing with a head injury, with Alessandro Buongiorno and Leonardo Spinazzola joining Romelu Lukaku on the absentee list. Udinese had Hassane Kamara on a one-match ban, with Nicolò Zaniolo, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, Juan Arizala and Alessandro Zanoli sidelined.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Maduka Okoye needed a fingertip save to deny Alisson Santos on an Eljif Elmas assist within 70 seconds, but the same player pulled up mid-sprint clutching the back of his left thigh soon after and was forced into an early ending to his season, replaced by De Bruyne.
Alex Meret got down for a great save on Jesper Karlstrom’s half-volley from the edge of the area, but it was Napoli who took the lead.
De Bruyne placed a simply perfectly weighted pass into the path of Hojlund, who ran forward and finished while sliding in from eight yards.
Hojlund went down in the box under pressure from Christian Kabasele, but the referee waved away penalty appeals, then Stanislav Lobotka also limped off with a suspected calf strain.
Kabasele wrestled Hojlund to the ground during a lay-off, but the tussle continued after the ball had gone and the Udinese player kicked out at his opponent. At first it was a yellow card, but changed to red following a VAR review.
Nonetheless, Udinese threatened an equaliser with Idrissa Gueye on a corner, denied by a desperate defensive block almost on the line.
Napoli had a huge chance too when Hojlund got away from two with a lovely bit of skill and pulled back from the by-line only for McTominay to balloon over from six yards.
It proved enough to lock down second place in the final Serie A table.
Napoli 1-0 Udinese
Hojlund 24 (N)
Sent off: Kabasele 64 (U)
24-05-2026 17:00
MatchDay 38
Stadio Diego Armando MaradonaNAPUDI
Live1 – 0
Player statistic
| Rasmus Højlund(Assist: Kevin De Bruyne) | 24' |
| 51' | Jesper Karlström |
| 64' | Christian Kabasele |
| 81' | Adam Buksa |
| 90' | Lennon Miller |
NAP
UDI
Starting lineups
1
Alex Meret
Goalkeeper
80′
13
Amir Rrahmani
Defender
22
Giovanni Di Lorenzo
Defender
17
Mathías Olivera
Defender
46′
3
Miguel Gutiérrez
Defender
20
Eljif Elmas
Midfielder
8
Scott McTominay
Midfielder
68
Stanislav Lobotka
Midfielder
37′
27
Alisson Santos
Attacker
10′
21
Matteo Politano
Attacker
80′
19
Rasmus Højlund
Attacker
40
Maduka Okoye
Goalkeeper
27
Christian Kabasele
Defender
33
Jordan Zemura
Defender
80′
19
Kingsley Ehizibue
Defender
28
Oumar Solet
Defender
31
Thomas Kristensen
Defender
59′
14
Arthur Atta
Midfielder
24
Jakub Piotrowski
Midfielder
55′
8
Jesper Karlström
Midfielder
59′
38
Lennon Miller
Midfielder
9
Keinan Davis
Attacker
80′
Substitutes
99
Frank Anguissa
Midfielder
26
Antonio Vergara
Midfielder
32
Vanja Milinković-Savić
Goalkeeper
31
Sam Beukema
Defender
23
Giovane Nascimento
Attacker
11
Kevin De Bruyne
Midfielder
10′
6
Billy Gilmour
Midfielder
37′
5
Juan Jesus
Defender
46′
14
Nikita Contini
Goalkeeper
80′
30
Pasquale Mazzocchi
Defender
80′
93
Daniele Padelli
Goalkeeper
90
Răzvan Sava
Goalkeeper
1
Alessandro Nunziante
Goalkeeper
15
Vakoun Bayo
Attacker
29
Abdoulaye Camara
Midfielder
7
Idrissa Gueye
Attacker
55′
13
Nicolò Bertola
Defender
59′
18
Adam Buksa
Attacker
59′
6
Oier Zarraga
Midfielder
80′
22
Branimir Mlacic
Defender
80′
